Here's A Tip!

Every month we feature two woods, one domestic and one exotic, usually at 25% off or more! We bring in fresh, new stock so the supply is at its very best, too. Plus we have several other special lumber & wood buys you'll find right here.

Get some real down-to-earth instruction on how to properly use your table saw safely. Joe will also cover some important jigs you should have and show you some great tricks you never knew existed. FEE: $10.00. Attendees receive a $10 coupon to use in our store as well.

This is a 5-day woodworking class in which students will learn to design and build 2 "Martini Tables" from renowned designer and furniture maker Michael Fortune. Class takes place at Southwest School of Woodworking in downtown Phoenix. Fee $760, all materials and tools included. Details http://www.woodworkerssource.com/blog/events-classes-and-clinics/learn-to-build-martini-tables-with-michael-fortune-woodworking-class/

Get some real down-to-earth instruction on how to properly use your table saw safely. Joe will also cover some important jigs you should have and show you some great tricks you never knew existed. FEE: $10.00. Attendees receive a $10 coupon to use in our store as well.

Get some real down-to-earth instruction on how to properly use your table saw safely. Joe will also cover some important jigs you should have and show you some great tricks you never knew existed. FEE: $10.00. Attendees receive a $10 coupon to use in our store as well.

This is a hands-on woodworking class in which students will learn to design and create 2 elegant cutting boards using techniques in glue-up, bent lamination, and router use. Weekend class takes place Saturday & Sunday, 4 hours each day. $195 fee includes materials, tools, and personal instruction. Details: http://www.woodworkerssource.com/blog/events-classes-and-clinics/learn-to-make-this-elegant-custom-cutting-board-in-a-weekend-woodworking-class/

This is a hands-on woodworking class in which students will learn to design and create 2 elegant cutting boards using techniques in glue-up, bent lamination, and router use. Weekend class takes place Saturday & Sunday, 4 hours each day. $195 fee includes materials, tools, and personal instruction. Details: http://www.woodworkerssource.com/blog/events-classes-and-clinics/learn-to-make-this-elegant-custom-cutting-board-in-a-weekend-woodworking-class/

Archives

A High End for the Low End: Tom Garden’s Hand Made Bass Guitars

Tom Garden with one of his newest handmade basses featuring quilted maple and a sleek lightweight design and top of the line hardware

Ask any bass player, and he’ll tell you that his job is the least respected in the band. Musically speaking, the bass takes care of the low end; and those who don’t know any better may think this position really is low end. Did Elvis play bass? Willie Nelson? Guys like Jimmy Page and Carlos Santana didn’t exactly summon an entire generation toward bass playing – they inspired kids to pick up a standard six string for stadium-filled solo guitar playing.

The bass gets little attention. In the movie “That Thing You Do” the bass player in the band never had a name, and gets credited as, “T. B. Player.” Now that I think about it, there’s no video game called “Bass Guitar Hero” either, as far as I know.

But when you hear someone like Victor Wooten play the bass, you just might be inclined to go, “Wow, I never knew the bass could sound so refined.” There’s hope yet.

What does this have to do with woodworking?

Figured bubinga bass guitar

And right in our very own Tempe store we have a part time employee who builds only bass guitars. At the store, you can find Tom Garden working in the mill and warehouse about one day a week. The rest of the week he’s at his personal shop hand making incredible bass guitars.

In today’s age, you can see all the flawless CNC manufactured musical instruments or furniture that you want – to the point of total dissatisfaction with progress. But as many musicians and woodworkers will demand, hand made pieces are far superior if only for the human energy put into them. Tom admits that, “if you look close enough at my work you can find a flaw here or there. They’re all hand made. ”

I don’t know. Take a look at the pictures of these bass guitars he’s built. You’ll be hard pressed to find flaws with the naked eye.

Tom puts in at least 80 hours into each bass he builds. He’s recently started using graphite reinforcing in the necks, which is light, strong, and highly resistant to fatigue making his instruments very reliable for a touring player. Tom also uses a UV-cured polyester finish, which is pretty cool in both using it and looking at the final product. He gets that classic slick-n-glossy coating but the polyester cures with a shot of light in a matter of moments. Plus it’s more durable than lacquer.

Tom has a number of guitar shops stocking his basses and he also participates in guitar shows for promoting his work and landing commissions for custom basses. Again, we’re lucky to have him in our shop from time to time.

Guess where he gets his wood?

Tom Garden with one of his newest handmade basses featuring quilted maple and a sleek lightweight design and top of the line hardware

Figured bubinga bass with a limba back

Tom adds classy details throughout the guitars

A limba back, stainless hardware and inlaid neck

Inlaid logo on the headstock

Hard maple, purple heart and wenge

Tom stamps every guitar with a serial number

Figured bubinga bass guitar

A walnut burl top slightly offset by a thin maple veneer on a limba back

Called the Nimbus, this walnut burl bass is Tom’s design

Comfort shape yet a unique design

Tom found a wild piece of cocobolo in the Woodworkers Source warehouse

He laminated a piece of white maple between the padauk back and wild cocobolo top for a cool look

Toms basses are wonderful.I own 2 and they are the best I’ve ever played.I am the owner of the one pictured with the quilted maple top.I think its really cool that he is holding my bass in that picture

I build and repair guitars , build mandolins,Fiddles, I buy some of my wood from Woodworkers source. all of my builds are acoustic instruments, but I am starting to build a electric guitar, a kit I bought from Grizzley, a telecaster, I would like to know what you use as a sealer on your wood for your guitars. I used Hide glue on the recent electric guitar body I thinned it out put two coats on but sanded in between. Your guitars look superb, this coating you use what is it, how do you aplly it, where do you get it, what is the hazards of using it, protection etc…………………….soon………………….Dennis
Desert Luthiery
Yuma , Az

Toad

Fantastic work Tom ! Keep it up – there’s no such thing as too many beautiful instraments.

Bill

They are cool. I have One

Drew

Those are absolutely gorgeous. Nice work Tom.

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Woodworkers Source started in 1978 to provide the finest hardwood lumber to all types of woodworkers, from beginners getting started with the craft to long-time professionals. It doesn't matter what your skills are, we aim to provide friendly service and advice. We're here 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.